Frame or body for aeroplanes and other structures.



G HIFFLARU,

FRAME OR BODY FOR AEROPLAHES AND OTHER; STRUCTURES.

APPLIGATION FILED mm, 30, 1911.

zimmmm Wm EM, 11m 1.

WITNESSE": INVENTOH I w y m g a am W a/ww M i I BY "hum J b MMNWVM/WLKM G. RIIFFLARD.

FRAME on BODY FOR AEROPLANES AND 0T STRUOTUEES.

HER

APPLICATION FILED JA1\'{.30', 1911;-

fflarQ L.

lNVENTORt E El am ATTORN EYE Psewltented Nov. 28, 19M

mhomw of the novel features of the present invention, and its most important object, tov rovide a means for assembling said chor s 2' in a properrelation' to the other elements of the aeroplane frame or body, without weakening them by boring holes therein, or

,to each other, by means of a-plurality of suitably spaced or disposed stanchions 8',

the ends of which abut the inner surfaces of said chords 2. The chords 2, which are parallel in a horizontal plane are separated and supported in proper relation to each other, by means of a'plurality of suitably spaced or disposed stretchers l, the ends of which abut the inner surfaces of said chords 2. The means for assembling and retaining, in the proper relation one to. the other,'the said chords 2, stanchions 3 and stretchers l, comprises the following features :There is provided a yoke-bolt 5, the same being formed ultimately with a U-shaped body, the free ends 6 of which are screw-threaded to receive nuts .7. In connection with said yoke-bolt 5, there is provided a binder-plate 8 which is perforated soas to receive the screw-threaded ends 6 of said yoke-bolt 5. The ends of the stanchions 3 are provided with suitable perforations for the reception of a part of said yoke-bolt 5, which passes transversely therethrough. A shank-portion 9 of said yoke-bolt5 is then turned or bent so that it abuts the outer surface of one' of said chords 2, Yand presents one of the ends 6 in proper position to receive the' one perforated end of said binder-plate 8and a nut 7 for interlocking the said parts in such assembled relation. Another shankportion 10 of said yoke-bolt 5 is then turned 3 or bent so that the same will pass through suitable perforations with which the ends of said stretchers 4 are provided, the other of the said ends 6 projecting beyond the outer surface of said stretcher 4 in'proper position to receive the other perforated end of the binder-plate 8 and a nut for interlocking said parts in such assembled relation. As thus arranged, the said yoke-bolt 5 and said binder-plate 8, together with the nuts 7, serve to bind together in their assembled relation, the chords 2, the stanchions 3 and the stretchers 4:, in a strong and permanent manner, without necessitating the use of bolts, passing through said chords, or cutout portions of any kind to be made therein, whereby the structure would be weakened. The yoke-bolt 5 when thus assembled, in the manner above described, presents a loop or'anchor-portion 11 at the junction of each stretcher 4 and stanchion 3, the same providing an anchoring place for securing the ends 'of the interior crossties or truss-connections 12 which are a further aid to the rigidity and strength of the whole frame or body )1. The said tie or truss con'nections 12 comprise an. anchorplate 13, provided at one end with a perforated eye-portion 14c, and at the other end with another-perforated eye-portion 15, said eye-portion 14 being threaded upon one of said loops or anchor-portions 11 formed by said yoke-bolt 5, as above described, while the other eye-portion 15 is adapted to re- .ceive one end of-a tie-rod or wire 16, the

free end-portion of which is rivetedover so as to form a retaining head 17; The other end of said tie-rod or wire 16 is providedwith screw-threaded portion 18 which is received in a 'tighteningnipple 19, said nipples 19 being supported by a stirruplike member 20 which is provided with a reinforcing plate 21, said stirrup-like member 20 and its reinforcing-plate 21 being perforated to permit the passage of the shank of said nipple 19 therethrough,

while retaining in held engagement the enlarged head 22 of said tightening nipple 19.

Said stirrup-like member 20 is also provided with a rearwardly extending tail-piece which is formed with a perforatedeye-portion 24, the latter being threaded upon another of said loops or anchor-portions 11 of the yoke-bolts 5, and the same being preferably diagonally opposite to the loop or anchor-portion 11 to which said anchorplatel3 is connected. Said tie-rod or wire .16 may be tightened and rendered taut by 12. The various eye-portions ofsaid longitudinally extending ties or. truss-connections 25 which lie in horizontal planes are threaded upon such portions of the yoke-bolts ,5 which pass through the ends of said stanchions 3 and stretchers 4, said stretchers 4 being provided with cut-out portions or grooves 26 to permit the passage outward from said yoke-bolts 5 of the various parts of said ties or truss-connections 25, the lat- .ter being adapted to stretch diagonally between said stretchers 4:. In like manner, the

various eye-portions ofsaid longitudinally extending he or truss-connections 25 which lie in vertlcal planes are threaded upon such incense portions of the yoke-bolts,.5 .which pass through the ends ofsaid stanchions 3, said stanchions being also'providedwith cutout portions orgrooves 2*? to permit the passage outward trorn said yolre-bolts 5 oi the va rious parts ot'said tiesor truss-connections 25, the latter being adapted tostretch diagonally between said stanchions lit Will thus be understood, that the arious stretchers a and stanch-ions 3 are-firmly and securely tied or trussed against displacement from their interbound relation to said chords .2, whereby an exceedingly strong, durable, and'ethcient'construction of frame or body for aeroplanes, or other skeleton-structures, is provided.

I am fully. aware that changes may be niade'in thearrangernents and combinations of the various parts, as Well as in the de tails of the constrnctlon of the same, W1thout departing from the. scope oft my present invention asls'et forth 'in the foregoing speclficatlon and as def ned in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invent-ion to the exact arrangeinentsjand combinations of the parts as dcscribed'in the said specification, nor do I conhne myself to the enact details of the construction otthe said partsas lllustrated in the accompanying drawings.

ll claim 1. It construction of aeroplane l ralnes'or bodies, or other skeleton structures, coniprising chords, vertically disposed stanchions between said chords, horizontally disposed stretchers between said chords, yoke-bolts,

- chions between said chords, horizontally dieposed stretchers between said'chords, yolre bolts, a portionot each yoke-bolt passing through adjacent ends of a stanchion and a stretcher asthe ,saine abut a chord, and a portion of each yoke-bolt extending; along the exterior of said chords, abindei plate connected with each yolrebolt, nuts for curing said binder-plates in place, and a tying means extending diagonally :liroin one yoke-bolt to another, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 1 f C 3. A. construction 0t aeroplane frame or body; or other skeleton structure, comprising longitudinally extending" chords, vertically disposed stanchions, the endsot which abut sa d chords, horizontally disposedstretchcrs the ends of. which abut said chords, yokebolts passing through the ends of said stai chions, each yoke-bolt'having a shanlo portion passing tl'lrough the adjacent end of one oi: sald stretchers and a shank -portion extending along oneexterior side of said chords, a binder-plate connected with the ends of the shank-portions cit each yoke bolt and adapted to extend along anotherv exterior side of said chords, and nuts for securing said binder-plates in. place, siib+ stantially as and for the purposes set tortil a rt construction of aeroplane "frameor body, or otherskeleton structure, c01nprising longitudinally extending chords, vertij cally disposed stalichions, the ends of which abut said chords, horizontally disposed stretchcrs, the ends of which abut said chords, yoke-bolts passing through theends ot said. stanchions, each yoke-bolt having a shank-portion passing through the adjacent end of onset said slretchers and a shank portion extending along one exterior side ot said chords, a binder-plate connected With the ends of the shanloportions of each yokebolt and adapted to extend along another onterior of said chords, nuts for securing said binder-plates in place, and a plurality cities or truss-connections extending diago nally tron: one yoke-bolt to another, Jsubstantially and for the purposes set forth.

5. it. construction of aeroplane frame or hody,-or other skeleton structure, comprising; loiugitudinally extending chords, vertically disposed stench-ions, theendsot which abut said chords, horizontally disposed stretchers, the ends of which abut said.

chords, "yoke-bolts passing; through the ends at saidstanchions, each yokc'bolt having," a shank-portion passing through the adjacent end of one of said stretchers and a shankportion extending along one en'l'er'ior side' oi? said chords, a binder-plate connected with. the ends ot the shank-portions of each yolrcbolt and adapted to extend along another onterior side oil said ()ll()1(lS$,'l1lllJS for securing; said binder-plates in place. a plurality of cross-ties or trl ,(mnmtions, said yokebolts being provided with a projectingloop or anchor portion adapted to retain the ends Oill said cross-ties or trussconnections, anda,

' lily of longitudinally cxtendingties or onnections extending diagonally from one \7ol e-l)olt to another, substantially as and tor the purposes set forth. A. construction of aeroplane frame or body, or other slrclcton structure, comp! sing longitudinally extending chords, vertically disposed stanchions, -the ends of which abut said chords, horizontally disposed strelcl'lers the ends 01 which abutsaid chords, yokebolts passing through the s'hnichions, each yoke-bolt having a shankportion passingthrough the adjacent end of one oi? said stretchers and a shank-portion extending; along one exterior side of said ends of said no I chords, a binderplate connected with the ends of the shank-portions of each yoke- 'bolt and adapted to extend along another exterior side of said chords, nuts connected with saidshank-portions for securing said binder-plate in' place, ea'chyoke-bolt fur ther providing a loop or anchor-portion, cross ties or truss connections extending from one loop or anchor-portion to another, longitudinally extending ties or truss-connections extending from one yoke-bolt to another, said stan chions being provided with cutaway portions to permit the access of said ties or truss-connections to said yoke-bolts, other longitudinally extending ties ortruss connections extending from a shank-portion of one yokebolt to a shank-portion of another yoke-bolt-, sai d stretchers being provided with cutaway portions to permit the access of said ties or truss-connections to said shank-portion, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.-

7. A construction of aeroplane frame or body, or other skeleton structure, comprising longitudinally extending chords, vertically disposed stanchions, the ends of which abut.v said chords, horizontally disposed stretchers the ends of which abut said chords, yoke-bolts passing throughthe ends.

of said stanchions, each yoke-bolt having a shank-portion passing through the adjacentend of one of said. stretchers and a shank-portion extending along one exterior side of said chords, a binder-plate connected with the ends of the shank-portions of each yoke-bolt and adapted to extend along an other exterior side of said chords, nuts connected with said shank-portions for securing said binder-plate in place, each yoke-bolt further providing a loop or anchor-portion, cross ties or truss-connections extending from one loop or anchor-portion to another,

longitudinally extending ties or truss-connections extending from one yoke-bolt to an other, said stanchions being provided with cut-away portions to permit the access of to said shank-portions said ties or truss-' said ties or truss-connections to said yokebolts, other longitudinally extending ties or truss-connections, extending from a shankportion of one yoke-bolt to a shank-portion of another yoke-bolt, said stretchers being provided with cut-away portions to permit the access of said ties or truss-connections connections each, comprising an anchor-plate provided at each end with eye-portions, a

tie-rod connected with one end of said anchor-plate, a st'irrup-member, .a nipple carried by said stirrup-member, adapted to receive and retain the other end of said tierod, and a tail-piece provided withan eyeportion connected withsaid stirrup-member, iubsltlantially as and for the purposes set ort 8. A construction of aeroplane frames or bodies, or, other skeleton structures, comprising chords, vertically zdisposed stanchions, horizontally disposed stretchers, yoke-bolts surrounding said chords and connecting the ends of said stanchions and stretchers therewith, binder-plates for retaining said yokebolts in their holding positions, and a tying means'extending diagonally from one yokebolt to another comprising ties or truss-connection's', said ties or truss-connections each comprising an anchor-plate provided at each end with eye-portions, a tie-rod connected with one end of said anchor-plate, astirrupmember, a nipple carriedby said stirrupmember, adapted to receive and retain the other end' of said tie-rod, and a tail-piece provided with an eye-portion connected with each yoke-bolt, nuts for-securing said binder plates in place, and a tying means extending diagonally from one yoke-bolt to another comprisingties or truss-connections, said ties or truss-connections each comprlsing an anchor-plate provided at each end with eyeportions, a tie-rod connected with one end of. said anchor-plate, a stirrup-member, a

nipple carried by said stirrup-member,

adapted to'receive and retain the other end of said tierod, and a tail-piece provided with an eye-portion connected with said stirrup-member, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. a

10. A construction of aeroplane frame or body, or other skeleton structure, comprisin-g longitudinally extending chords, verti cally disposed stanchions, the ends of which abutsaid chords, horizontally disposed stretchers, the ends of which abut said chords, yoke-bolts passing through the ends of said stanchions, eachyoke-bolt-having a shank-portion passing through the adjacent end of one of said stretchers and a shankportion extending along one-exterior side of said chords, a binder-plate connected with the ends of the shank-portions of each yokebolt and adapted to extend along another exterior side of said chords, nuts'ior securing said binder-plates in place, and a plurality of ties or truss-connections extending diagonally from one yoke-bolt to another, said ties or truss-connections each-comprising an anchor-plate provided at each end with eye-portions, a tle-rod connected with one end of said. 'anchor plate, a stirrup-memm a w v a a bar, a nipple carried by said stifrup-memset forth above I have hereunto set my hand beg, ajglagntsd t0 rgc eivg1 and fetain the otle this 27th day of January, 1911. en 0 sai tie-r0 an a tai -piece prqvi e I with an eye-portion connected Withsaid GEORGE RIFFLARD" 5 stirrup-member, substantially as-and for the Witnesses:

purposes set forth. ADOLPH HANSEN,

In testimony, that I claim the inventiun Gnomn D. RICHARDS. 

